# Lycium ruthenicum Murray

By [EricTTT](https://paragraph.com/@pandaeric) · 2023-07-21

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Lycium ruthenicum Murray is a shrub of the genus Lycium in the nightshade family. Stems much branched, twigs prickly at the tip; Leaves thickly fleshy, linear-lanceolate or linear-oblanceolate, gray-green, apical obtuse; Calyx narrow campanulate, fruit slightly enlarged to hemispheric; Corolla funnel-shaped, light purple; Stamen slightly protruding, filaments sparse tomentose near base; Berries globular, purplish black; Flowering period from May to August; Fruit season from August to October.

Wolfberry is mainly distributed in Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet provinces in China, and also in Central Asia, Europe and other countries. \[9\] Wolfberry loves light, is resistant to salt and alkali, is resistant to drought, has strong adaptability and vitality, and often grows in saline-alkali land, salinized sandy land, along rivers and lakes, dry river beds or roadside. \[10\] The propagation methods of Wolfberry include cutting, sowing and tillering. \[11\]

Black fruit wolfberry can treat heart fever, heart disease, menstrual disorders and other diseases. \[12\] Wolfberry contains protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, and has high edible value. Its fruits are also rich in anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-allergic functions, enhance human immunity and improve sleep. \[13\] The nutritional value of black fruit wolfberry is higher than that of ordinary wolfberry, and corresponding health drinks and foods can be developed. \[14\] In terms of ecological value, Wolfberry can also improve soil, prevent wind and fix sand.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/6f3aa9132c839901dc1677c3fe03296405edf6997b99d94159882fdcf503b9c4.webp)

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*Originally published on [EricTTT](https://paragraph.com/@pandaeric/lycium-ruthenicum-murray)*